Dear Neighbor,

I spent this week in Washington focused on legislative matters, much of my week dedicated to working on the bill I introduced to protect the right to travel, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 8297.  More on this below.

Before any bill goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration, the House Rules Committee reviews the bill, and then sends a Rule to the House outlining debate and amendments on the bill.  This week, I made my first appearance before the Rules Committee to testify about the bill I introduced with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 8296 and explain what it does and why it is necessary.

The bill responds to threats to interfere with the constitutional right of Texans (and all Americans) to travel freely and voluntarily within the United States, which we have seen in recent weeks in Texas.  Congress has the authority, and the obligation, to protect people from these unconstitutional efforts to prevent, restrict, impede, or otherwise retaliate against a person traveling across state lines to obtain a legal abortion and to protect health care providers and others who assist them.  I am glad to say that my bill received overwhelming support, with more than 180 co-sponsors and endorsements from 13 organizations. 

On Friday, the House passed the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act as well as the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022, H.R. 8296, which creates a statutory right to abortion nationwide based on the framework of Roe v. Wade. 

Before the vote, I joined several of my colleagues on the East front steps of the Capitol for a press conference on the two reproductive freedom bills.  You can watch the full press conference here.

We did other important work in the House this week, including passing the bipartisan Active Shooter Alert Act, H.R. 6538, to create a program for law enforcement to alert the public to active shooters in their communities, similar to the AMBER Alert system.  An emergency alert system would help ensure timely, direct communication from public safety officials to community members, preventing further violence and keeping our communities safe during times of crisis.  As gun violence continues to affect our community and our country, it is critical that Congress do we what we can to create and provide critical tools for public safety. 

The Active Shooter Alert Act would:

• Create a national active shooter alert system for law enforcement to utilize on a voluntary basis to improve their system of letting civilians know to stay away and stay safe from active shooters; and
• Provide for the appointment of an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator within the Department of Justice to develop best practices for local and state law enforcement to improve or implement active shooter alert systems. 

The House also passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), H.R. 7900, the annual defense bill to support service members and their families, strengthen national security, and promote democracy abroad.  I am pleased this bill authorizes a pay raise and vital benefits for service members, protects military supply chains, and makes investments to improve military capability.  Keeping our country safe means investing both in our servicemembers and in the tools they need to succeed, and this bill does just that.  For a detailed summary of the NDAA FY23, you can click here.

That same day, the House also passed the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, H.R. 3967, to ensure and expand benefits for all veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances.  I was glad to vote again for the bipartisan Honoring Our PACT Act to expand access to care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances and airborne hazards during their service to our country. 

The House voted on several other pieces of legislation this week, also on a bipartisan basis, including: 

• The Formula Act, H.R. 8351, to help reduce the price of infant formula by temporarily suspending tariffs on infant formula imports;
• The First Responder Fair RETIRE Act, H.R. 521, to ensure that federal firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other federal first responders qualify for full retirement benefits if they are injured on the job and unable to continue their current service; and
• The Computers for Veterans Act, H.R. 3544, to help bridge the digital divide by providing surplus government computers to veterans, students, and seniors in need of a device.

My bill isn’t the only way I’m working to protect reproductive freedom after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization precipitated a reproductive health crisis in Texas and across the country.  On Wednesday, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35) and I sent a letter to President Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra urging them to issue a national emergency declaration and a public health emergency declaration to protect access to abortion care and to help ensure continued access to medication abortion across the country.  We have a public health emergency in Texas and other states that have outlawed access to abortion care that has become a national public health crisis.  To respond effectively, we need to use every tool available to protect patients and health care providers.  I am glad to partner with Congressman Doggett in this effort.  To read the full text of the letter, click here. 

I also co-sponsored the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021, H.R. 4436, to improve the safety and security of federal judges and to that ensure federal judges are able to administer justice fairly without fear of personal reprisal.

Last year, the House Energy and Commerce Committee developed and passed legislation to support the launch of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.  I was glad to vote for it in Committee and when it passed the House. 

Yesterday, the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis lifeline went live.  It is a new, easy-to-remember hotline offering 24/7 support for people who are experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicide crisis.  Now, when someone calls or texts the 9-8-8 lifeline or chats on 988lifeline.org, they will be connected with a trained crisis counselor who listens, offers support, and provides further resources if needed. 

My colleagues and I on the Committee continue critical work to support the mental health and well-being of Americans.

On Wednesday, the full Energy and Commerce Committee marked up several pieces of legislation, all of which I voted in favor of and all of which passed out of committee:

• The Lymphedema Treatment Act, H.R. 3630
• The Spectrum Innovation Act of 2022, H.R. 7624
• The Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act of 2022, H.R. 4275
• The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act, H.R. 4990; and
• The Safe Connections Act of 2022, H.R. 7132

Between hearings, markups, and votes, I was able to meet with a few Houstonians on the Hill this week, including representatives from Texas Children’s Hospital (pictured below), Community Health Choice, and Harris Health.

And Kevin on my team met with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association to discuss cattle provisions in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. 

Another important note for Houstonians who want to come to the Hill (or the District Office!), we have extended the application deadline for fall internships!  Students can learn more and apply here. 

This week, I will be back in Washington as the House votes on our annual appropriations legislation to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2023.  The House will also consider the Right to Contraception Act, H.R. 8373, a bill I cosponsored to protect Americans’ ability to access and use contraceptives.

Next week, I hope you will join me for a town hall meeting on Gun Violence Prevention on Monday, July 25 with Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, Dr. Cedric Dark, and Moms Demand Action Former Texas Chapter Lead Norri Leder.  More details below. Make sure to RSVP.

As always, I am honored to represent you and I am here to help you.  Please call my office at (713) 353-8680 or (202) 225-2571 or email me at fletcher.house.gov/contact at any time to ask for assistance or share your thoughts.  My team and I look forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes,